Sun Jihai - short first spell in England. (Allsport)
SUN JIHAI
Position: Defender
Born: 30.09.77
Club: Manchester City
Sun was the other half of the £1million deal that saw national captain Fan Zhiyi join Crystal Palace in 1998.
But his first spell in England was short-lived and he moved to Dalian Shide just a year later.
Now, however, he is back on English shores after joining Manchester City for £2million.
Sun made his debut for China in 1996 and has been a regular fixture in their backline ever since.
Since returning to his home country Sun has been back to his best form, earning rave reviews which had alerted the likes of AC Milan, Torino and Everton.
It was Kevin Keegan's City who won the race for his services, though, and Sun made his debut against Coventry in March and went on to help City lift the Nationwide One title.
At international level, he is usually fielded at right-back but is equally at home alongside Fan in the centre of defence.
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